9 Favorite Midwest Take-Home Treats

A big helping of all road-trip memories centers on food. So why not pack the trunk with mouth-watering mementos? Here are nine of our favorite take-home treats from across the region. (Stuck at home? Order them online!)

Writer: Jess Hoffert

Photo courtesy of 17th street BBQ.

Photo courtesy of Das Dutchman Essenhaus.

Photo courtesy of Garrett Popcorn Shops.

17th Street Barbecue, Marion and Murphysboro, Illinois Around southern Illinois, folks know barbecue master Mike Mills as The Legend, thanks to his three-time Grand World Champion ribs. He cooks them for six hours over apple and cherry woods. His not-so-secret ingredient: Magic Dust, an all-purpose seasoning and rub with a kick (eat17bbq.com[1]).

Das Dutchman Essenhaus, Middlebury, Indiana This Amish Country landmark deals in noodles in many forms. Order a heaping mound of chicken and noodles at the restaurant before taking home some dried noodles and chicken soup base from the bakery for easy DIY comfort food. (800) 455-9471; essenhaus.com[2]

Garrett Popcorn Shops, Chicago Since 1949, Windy City visitors have had a hard time passing up the scent of sweet popcorn bubbling out of copper kettles. We love The Chicago Mix, a perfect blend of stick-to-your-teeth Caramel Crisp and addictive CheeseCorn. Pop in at one of 11 Chicago locations to snag a signature souvenir tin. garrettpopcorn.com[4]

O&H Danish Bakery, Racine, Wisconsin The oval-shape kringle alone is enough to spur a road trip. Its 36 layers of ultrathin dough are wrapped around fillings like crushed pecans or raspberries, then covered with a sheet of white icing. Are we there yet? (800) 709-4009; ohdanishbakery.com[5]

St. Elmo Steak House, Indianapolis Indy icon St. Elmo Steak House now bottles its horseradish-heavy cocktail sauce. It’s a must for any shrimp connoisseur who wants to open up their sinuses with their appetizer. (317) 635-0636; stelmos.com[6]

Tell City Pretzels, Indiana There’s no home store for the beloved 156-year-old pretzel-maker, but you can grab a bag of their munchies at grocery stores throughout the Hoosier State (see the website for a full list). Choose your level of sodium, from bald (salt-free) to extra salt. (812) 548-4499; tellcitypretzel.com[7]

The Cherry Hut, Fish Creek, Wisconsin It would be a shame to leave Door County without its star superfruit. This shop in quaint Fish Creek bursts with cherry jams and chocolates. (920) 868-3406; doorcountycherryhut.com[8]

Wisconsin Cheese Mart, Milwaukee Overwhelmed by the 175 varieties of cheese for sale? That’s where the Über Tap Room comes in. Order a flight of cheddars with Wisconsin beer pairings, and you won’t worry that you missed the good stuff. (888) 482-7700; wisconsincheesemart.com[9]